Fantasy
Someone You Can Build a Nest in
John Wiswell
SCIENCE FICTION Wiswell John
Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, LGBTQ+
"Shesheshen has made a mistake fatal to all monsters: she's fallen in love. Shesheshen is a shapeshifter, who happily resides as an amorphous lump at the bottom of a ruined manor. When her rest is interrupted by hunters intent on murdering her, she constructs a body from the remains of past meals: a metal chain for a backbone, borrowed bones for limbs, and a bear trap as an extra mouth. However, the hunters chase Shesheshen out of her home and off a cliff. Badly hurt, she's found and nursed back to health by Homily, a warm-hearted human, who has mistaken Shesheshen as a fellow human. Homily is kind and nurturing and would make an excellent co-parent: an ideal place to lay Shesheshen’s eggs so their young could devour Homily from the inside out. But as they grow close, she realizes humans don’t think about love that way. Shesheshen hates keeping her identity secret from Homily, but just as she’s about to confess, Homily reveals why she’s in the area: she’s hunting a shapeshifting monster that supposedly cursed her family. Has Shesheshen seen it anywhere? Eating her girlfriend isn’t an option. Shesheshen didn’t curse anyone, but to give herself and Homily a chance at happiness, she has to figure out why Homily’s twisted family thinks she did. As the hunt for the monster becomes increasingly deadly, Shesheshen must unearth the truth quickly, or soon both of their lives will be at risk. And the bigger challenge remains: surviving her toxic in-laws long enough to learn to build a life with, rather than in, the love of her life."--
Siren Queen
Nghi Vo
SCIENCE FICTION Vo Nghi
Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+
"It was magic. In every world, it was a kind of magic. "No maids, no funny talking, no fainting flowers." Luli Wei is beautiful, talented, and desperate to be a star. Coming of age in pre-Code Hollywood, she knows how dangerous the movie business is and how limited the roles are for a Chinese American girl from Hungarian Hill-but she doesn't care. She'd rather play a monster than a maid. But in Luli's world, the worst monsters in Hollywood are not the ones on screen. The studios want to own everything from her face to her name to the women she loves, and they run on a system of bargains made in blood and ancient magic, powered by the endless sacrifice of unlucky starlets like her. For those who do survive to earn their fame, success comes with a steep price. Luli is willing to do whatever it takes-even if that means becoming the monster herself. Siren Queen offers up an enthralling exploration of an outsider achieving stardom on her own terms, in a fantastical Hollywood where the monsters are real and the magic of the silver screen illuminates every page"--
Nighi Vo writes with a surreal, dreamlike detail that is perfect for a story set in the back lots of old Hollywood. -Chelsea
Spear
Nicola Griffith
FICTION Griffith Nicola
Fiction, Fantasy, LGBTQ+
"The girl knows she has a destiny before she even knows her name. She grows up in the wild, in a cave with her mother, but visions of a faraway lake come to her on the spring breeze, and when she hears a traveler speak of Artos, king of Caer Leon, she knows that her future lies at his court. And so, brimming with magic and eager to test her strength, she breaks her covenant with her mother and, with a broken hunting spear and mended armour, rides on a bony gelding to Caer Leon. On her adventures she will meet great knights and steal the hearts of beautiful women. She will fight warriors and sorcerers. And she will find her love, and the lake, and her fate"--
Nicola Griffith has queered the Hero's Journey, and it is delightful. This is not a quest for glory, or power, or salvation; this is a quest for connection, and joy, and a life worth living. Spear is a lovely, lyrical retelling of Arthurian myth with an interest in historical accuracy and the attendant diversity. Like all Arthurian myth it is haunted by the sorrow of its own promised ending. The sorrow does not spoil any of the moments of sweetness or triumph, but it adds a weight to the story like the air before a storm. -Chelsea
Nightbitch
Rachel Yoder
An artist turned stay-at-home mom becomes convinced that she is turning into a dog and, as her symptoms intensify, struggles to keep her alter-canine-identity a secret, until she meets a group of mothers who may also be more than what they seem.
This is one of my favorite books I've read in the last decade. As an artist and mother, I saw myself in it. The feminist rants were spot-on and relatable and it will be fun to see how those play out on film. It's also been a joy to see Iowa City writer Rachel Yoder have the movie rights for her book bought by Amy Adams before the book was even released! Seeing this film on the festival's opening night with other rabid fans will be great fun! About the 2024 film: Adapted from the celebrated novel by Iowa City author Rachel Yoder, director Marielle Heller (The Diary of a Teenage Girl) tells the story of a small city artist-turned-stay-at-home-mom (Amy Adams), trapped by her domestic duties and the weight of motherhood. With a well-meaning yet oblivious husband (Scoot MCnairy) and a group of new mom friends she can't relate to, she is overwhelmed, exhausted, and longing for more. Her heightened sentiments begin to manifest physically. As her body begins to change, she is seized by strange appetites and desires—getting in touch with a more animalistic side of her being in a comedic nightmare of motherhood infused magical realism that takes a turn for the canine. -Katie
Gods of jade and shadow : a novel
Silvia Moreno-Garcia
SCIENCE FICTION Moreno-Garcia, Silvia
Diverse Characters, Fiction, Fantasy
"The Mayan God of Death sends a young woman on a harrowing, life-changing journey in this dark fairy tale inspired by Mexican folklore"--
Came for the fantasy adventure, tripped and broke my heart on the romance. -Chelsea
The Familiar
Leigh Bardugo
SCIENCE FICTION Bardugo Leigh
Fiction, Fantasy
"In a shabby house, on a shabby street, in the new capital of Madrid, Luzia Cotado uses scraps of magic to get through her days of endless toil as a scullion. But when her scheming mistress discovers the lump of a servant cowering in the kitchen is actually hiding a talent for little miracles, she demands Luzia use those gifts to better the family's social position. What begins as simple amusement for the bored nobility takes a perilous turn when Luzia garners the notice of Antonio Pérez, the disgraced secretary to Spain's king. Still reeling from the defeat of his armada, the king is desperate for any advantage in the war against England's heretic queen--and Pérez will stop at nothing to regain the king's favor. Determined to seize this one chance to better her fortunes, Luzia plunges into a world of seers and alchemists, holy men and hucksters, where the lines between magic, science, and fraud are never certain. But as her notoriety grows, so does the danger that her Jewish blood will doom her to the Inquisition's wrath. She will have to use every bit of her wit and will to survive--even if that means enlisting the help of Guillén Santangel, an embittered immortal familiar whose own secrets could prove deadly for them both"--
A beautiful and bittersweet historical fantasy set during the Spanish inquisition that explores the consequences of desire. Bardugo uses diasporic languages, such as Ladino, to form the basis of her magic system, adding both tension and lyriscism to the narrative. The Familiar is good in print, but it really shines as an audiobook, where the magic words can come to life. -Chelsea
Into the goblin market
Vikki VanSickle
jE Vansickl
Picture Books, Classics, Fantasy, Adventure
"An ode to Christina Rossetti's classic poem and a clever homage to familiar fairy-tale villains, this story of two sisters will enthrall readers with its beautifully detailed art and enchanting writing."--
Brave the goblin market if you dare! Vansickle's perfectly paced rhyming text pairs wonderfully with exquisite ink and digital illustrations by Jensine Eckwall. Fans of Wanda Gag and fairy tale lovers will delight in this retelling of Christina Rossetti's "Goblin Market", complete with extra villainy and a beautiful twist. -Casey
Iron widow
Xiran Jay Zhao
YOUNG ADULT FICTION Zhao Xiran
Fantasy, Science Fiction
"Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid's Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers. The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall of China. It doesn't matter that the girls die from the mental strain. When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it's to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister's death. But when she gets her vengeance, it becomes clear that she is an Iron Widow, a rare kind of female pilot who can sacrifice males to power up Chrysalises instead. To tame her frightening yet valuable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest male pilot in Huaxia, yet feared and ostracized for killing his father and brothers. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will take over instead, then leverage their combined strength to force her society to stop failing its women and girls. Or die trying."--
A really good debut novel mixing fantasy and sci-fi. It comes with murder, liberation, mystery, and some surprises. Well written and easy to read. It is also available as an e-audio book through Libby. -Mykle
Temple of no god
H. M. (Hannah M.) Long
SCIENCE FICTION Long H. M.
Fantasy
"After a brutal war between the gods, Hessa - High Priestess of the Eangen - has brokered a fragile alliance between warring tribes and bought peace to her home. But a new threat is growing in the remnants of the once-great Arpa Empire. Three factions are vying to take the throne, the vast well of raw magical power only accessible to the Emperor. Hessa knows she cannot let this chance pass by - she must intervene, to protect her peoples' hard-won future. With the peace she has sacrificed so much for at stake, Hessa must lead an army of Algatt and Eangen warriors into the heart of enemy territory. But warring Arpa factions are not the only danger - a sinister new cult is on the rise, one that sucks the life from everything it touches. With enemies on every side and the fragile peace beginning to waver, Hessa must decide who to place on the throne - no matter what it may cost her." -- Publisher.
Another great read by Long. Full of magic and mystery, our protagonist is tasked with stopping a new threat. -Mykle
Red seas under red skies
Scott Lynch
SCIENCE FICTION Lynch, Scott
Fantasy
After a brutal battle with the underworld that nearly destroyed him, Locke Lamora and his trusted sidekick, Jean, fled the island city of their birth and landed on the exotic shores of Tal Verrar to nurse their wounds. But even at this westernmost edge of civilization, they can't rest for long---and they are soon back doing what they do best: stealing from the undeserving rich and pocketing the proceeds for themselves.
So, I've seen numerous people online say that this book is superior to "The Lies of Locke Lamora" in every way. I don't think I agree, but this is an extremely satisfying sequel. The midway switch up was fantastic as well--another con-caper? How about full-blown pirate adventure! A very fun and clever book. -Brian
A cozy queer romance seasoned with cosmic horror. "Someone You Can Build a Nest in" asks what it really means to be monstrous, and challenges us to break away from cycles of familial abuse. -Chelsea